Contrasting defensive strategies underlie differential susceptibility of corals to crown-of-thorns sea star (CoTS; Acanthaster cf. solaris) predation

Abstract

Crown-of-thorns sea star (CoTS), Acanthaster cf. solaris, outbreaks are a major cause of hard coral cover decline across the west Pacific, threatening coral reefs. Coral taxa vary in susceptibility to CoTS predation from preferred (Acropora spp.) to non-preferred (Porites spp.), yet the mechanisms underlying these differences are poorly understood. We investigated coral defenses during an ongoing CoTS outbreak in Moorea, French Polynesia by examining gene expression (including putative toxin genes) in healthy and actively predated colonies of a preferred (Acropora hyacinthus) and a non-preferred (Porites sp.) coral prey species. During predation, A. hyacinthus exhibited molecular signatures of cellular stress responses involving oxidative stress signalling, inflammation, and tissue proteolysis. In contrast, Porites sp. showed enrichment of genes involved in mitochondrial metabolic adjustment and aerobic metabolism, suggesting metabolic compensation to maintain cellular function. Furthermore, A. hyacinthus demonstrated a reactive defense behaviour by differentially expressing toxins (e.g., kunitz-type neurotoxins) while Porites sp. employed constitutive expression of all putative toxins regardless of active predation, suggesting a proactive defense strategy. Together, these findings suggest that preferred and non-preferred coral prey exhibit fundamentally different molecular and defensive strategies during CoTS predation, shedding light on the evolutionary arms race between corals and their predators.